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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: HABIB BANK <mail.hbl_info@yahooo.com>
Reply-To: info.hbl_mail@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 01:17:06 +0200
Subject: URGENT NOTICE FROM HABIB BANK LTD
Dear esteemed customer ,
The delay in crediting your account with your funds is been caused by the fact that one Mr John Williams presented us with a POWER OF ATTORNEY which he claimed was issued to him by you the authentic beneficiary of the fund to claim the fund in cash on his behalf . This sounds strange and we decided to contact you first before proceeding with that transfer of funds.
Consequent upon this development , we have taken broad steps to guard against wrong transfer of this fund by putting an insurance policy over the funds . To this end , you will be required now to pay the sum of SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY UNITED STATE DOLLAR ( $750 ) ONLY as the Cost of INSURANCE on this fund to enable us effect the transfer of this fund into your designated account .
Therefore we require of you to reconfirm to us the bank account details where you want your fund credited in your favor by stating it clearly to us in your reply to this message .Be informe d that you have 48 hours to debunk or accept this claim over your fund .Failure will amount to the funds been given to Mr John Williams .
Thanks ,
Idris Abba
Foreign transfer / operations
Habib bank ltd
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Anti-fraud resources:
